This archive report was first published on 28 November 2019.
Heavy rains have brought widespread destruction to Kenya, claiming the lives of over 100 people in mudslides and floods over the past two months.
Government spokesman Cyrus Oguna revealed that 32 counties have been hit by the disaster, with 350,000 people in dire need of assistance.
"The whole country has been affected by the downpour. Roads, bridges, and other infrastructure have been destroyed," Mr Oguna said during a press conference in Kapenguria, West Pokot County on Thursday.
According to Mr Oguna, the most affected regions include West Pokot, Baringo, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Garissa, Tana River, Narok, and Kilifi.
Government records show that 16,000 houses have been destroyed and 11,000 domestic animals killed.
Transport, agriculture, and education have been severely affected by the floods, with some schools destroyed but candidates relocated to safer areas to complete their national examination papers uninterrupted.
The Kenya Highways Authority is working to repair damaged roads, while the government has appealed for over Sh20 million to buy and coordinate relief supplies in mudslide-hit West Pokot and another Sh1.52 billion for other affected counties.
West Pokot Governor John Lonyangapuo disputed the government's death toll, putting it at 58 and the missing at 12.
Displaced villagers are camping in Tamkal, Nyarkulian, and Parua, with the government's Special Programmes department distributing 560 bags of beans and 200 bags of rice to the families.
Mr Oguna urged people in flood and landslide-prone villages to move to safer grounds, citing the government's weather prediction mechanisms.
